Prime and Composite Numbers

Fourth Grade Math

by Jennifer Sobalvarro July 5, 2018

Take your understanding of factors one step further! Use this lesson to classify factors as prime and composite
numbers while creating factor trees.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to find factor pairs for whole numbers and determine if they’re prime or composite
numbers.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Class set of Factor Rainbows prime

One copy of Factor Tree (for group work) composite
Index cards for factor tree creation and the exit factors
ticket

Attachments

Factor Rainbows (PDF)

Factor Tree (PDF)

Introduction (10 minutes)

Display the teaching component at the top of the Factor Rainbows worksheet. Ask students to turn and
talk to their partners about how to complete the rainbow. Listen for key terms such as "factors" and
"math expressions."
Choose a student to share their answers and allow other students to add to their answers or offer
corrections.
Define factors as numbers we can multiply together to get another number and show how the rainbow
has factors that, when multiplied, produce the whole number on the rainbow.
Explain that today they'll expand their understanding of factors by determining if the factors are prime
numbers or composite numbers.
Define prime numbers as whole numbers that can only be made by multiplying the number one by itself.
Tell them if they cannot divide a number by any other number than itself and one, it is prime. Define
composite numbers as whole numbers that have factors in addition to 1 and itself. Tell students 1 and 0
are neither prime nor composite.
Ask students to shout out which numbers they think are prime and write them on the board in a T-chart
with "prime" and "composite" written on top. Correct any misconceptions with multiplication sentences
and/or visuals, or allow other students to offer explanations.
EL

Beginning

Place students with a sympathetic partner who can explain rainbow factorization well.
Give a student-friendly definition in students' home language (L1) and English (L2) for new vocabulary as
you come across each term.

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Intermediate

Allow time for students to consult with a partner before they shout out examples of prime and composite
numbers.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (10 minutes)

Display problem B on the Factor Rainbow worksheet and find the factors using the factor tree strategy.
Model dividing the number by another number to find the two factors for the tree. Make some errors and
allow students to correct your mistakes.
Continue using problem B. Draw a factor tree for the number 48. Model finding the factors and checking
your answer by multiplying all the factors to get the product again. List the various expressions and box
the composite factors and circle the prime factors. (Note: feel free to color code the box and circle.)
Compare the factor tree to the factor rainbow to specify which numbers are composite or prime and
compare and contrast the processes.
Choose another problem from the Factor Rainbows worksheet to model. Choose students to box and
circle the correct numbers on the board while the other students have a thumbs up for agree and thumbs
down for disagree.
EL

Beginning

Have students restate the steps you take to find the factors to a partner. Provide transition words such as
"First... Then... After that..."

Intermediate

Create a word/phrase bank of useful terms related to the lesson, such as "prime," "composite," "factor,"
and "divisible." Include a student-friendly definition, image, and example if possible.

Guided Practice (15 minutes)

Ask a student to explain the process you used to create the factor tree before having students separate
into groups of 4–5 students.
Give each group enough index cards so they can have one whole number per card for each factor they
need to complete their factor tree. Give a different color marker to each group.
Assign students a two-digit whole number and ask them to create a tree with their index cards. Have
them discuss the prime and composite numbers. Remind them to divide the initial number or subsequent
factors if they need help finding more factors.
Have groups switch cards with each other so they have new groups. When they get their new cards have
them re-create the groups factor trees and justify their choice of prime and composite numbers.
Circulate around the room and correct misconceptions. Ask students to think about potential substitutions
for the factors they got from the other group.
EL

Beginning

Put students into groups based on their language needs, such as by placing students who speak the
same home language (L1) together, or by creating a mixed language fluency group.

Intermediate

Give students complete sentences of the steps to do tree factoring and have them sort them in the
correct order. Have them read the steps aloud to a partner.

Independent working time (12 minutes)

Distribute the Factor Tree worksheet and read through the directions. Choose two students to define

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 composite and prime numbers and to provide examples.
Ask students to complete the Factor Tree worksheet. Use the worksheet as a formative assessment of
their ability to find and classify factors as either prime or composite numbers.
EL

Beginning

Let students work on the independent work collaboratively with a partner.

Intermediate

Pull aside students in a small teacher-led group and ask probing questions to guide them through the
word and encourage discussion of their math thinking. For example, "How do you know that you are done
factoring? How do you know this number is prime/composite?"

Related books and/or media

VIDEO: Prime and Composite Numbers

Find interactive books for each child's level.

Differentiation

Support:

Allow students to view the "Prime and Composite Numbers" video to the four-minute mark after the
Explicit Teach section and then discuss the difference between composite and prime numbers. Then,
have them find prime and composite numbers and prove their answers (see related media).
Allow students to use manipulatives (e.g., unifix cubes) or multiplication charts with different color writing
instruments to color-code the prime numbers as they complete the group activities and independent
practice. Emphasize expression creation (e.g., 3 x 8) after every factor you add to the tree.
Allow them to pretend to be the factors with another group of students and place themselves in the
correct location on the factor tree or rainbow. Have them practice their vocabulary multiplication, prime
numbers, composite numbers, and multiples during the activity.

Enrichment:

Ask students to create factor trees with three-digit numbers and missing factors. Then, have them switch
with partners and complete the factor tree. Have them circle the composite factors and box the prime
factors.

Assessment (3 minutes)

Ask students to decide if the number 7 is prime or composite. Have them hold up two fingers for
composite and one finger for prime.
Distribute an index card and ask them to write down their reasoning.
EL

Beginning

Provide a sentence stem to help them write their reasoning: "The number 7 is a prime/composite number
because..."

Intermediate

Allow students access to the vocabulary cards as they write their reasoning for the assessment question.

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Review and closing (5 minutes)

Ask students to consider some patterns they can think about when classifying factors as composite or
prime. For instance, what are some numbers you know will always be composite (e.g., even numbers
except 2, numbers that end in 5, etc.).
Ask students to consider how knowing these patterns can help them save time on their factor trees.
EL

Beginning

Have students tell a partner their thoughts on noticing patterns when it comes to differentiating prime
and composite numbers.

Intermediate

Provide a sentence stem to help students answer the discussion question: "Knowing these patterns can
help us save time when we factor because..."

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 Factor Rainbows
Name:_________________________________________ Date:__________________

Example
18 20

Try It!
Fill the missing factors to
complete the rainbow

1 2 3 6 9 18 1 4 10
Factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
Factors of 20:

Make a factor rainbow for each of the numbers below.

a. 10 B. 24

Factors of 10: ____________________ Factors of 24: ____________________

a. 30 B. 45

Factors of 30: ____________________ Factors of 45: ____________________

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 Name Date

Factor Tree
Factors are two or more numbers that can be Factor Tree Factors: 5, 9, 3
multiplied together to get a new number.
45 Prime Numbers: 5, 3
In multiplication, we have:
- Prime numbers, which are whole numbers that Composite Numbers: 45, 9
have no other factor but 1 and itself. 5 9
- Composite numbers, which are whole numbers
that have have other factors besides 1 and itself. 3 3

Directions: Complete the factor tree by listing all the factors for each number. Then, circle the
prime numbers and box the composite numbers.

1. 100 2. 56

3. 4. 70
81

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